NFL Mock Draft 2023: Cowboys interested in new position after Combine?

Mock draft season is supposed to be fun. When it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, draft experts and prognosticators have largely butted heads in terms of what position they have Dallas targeting with the No. 26 overall pick.

Whom they target will be contingent on how the draft board unfolds, but the general consensus before the Scouting Combine was that the Cowboys would draft the best available wide receiver, cornerback, or defensive linemen.

Even an offensive linemen was in play, specifically Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence, as several early mocks had Torrence going to Dallas.

Now, though, the conversation has shifted entirely.

So much so that a new position has entered the conversation and become a real possibility based on what reporters heard in Indianapolis. In fact, the latest two notable mock drafts — from ESPN’s Todd McShay and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler — had the Cowboys drafting the same player in the first round.

How does Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid sound?

NFL Mock Draft: Are the Cowboys eyeing Utah TE Dalton Kincaid?

This is certainly interesting, and the fan base is largely split on whether they’d endorse drafting a tight end in the first round. While Dalton Schultz’s time in Dallas appears to be over, this feels like a luxury pick more than anything else.

In McShay’s mock, all of the top WRs are off the board, but Pittsburgh defensive tackle and Combine star Calijah Kancey was still available. As was South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith, who fits the profile of what Dallas seeks in its cornerbacks. Those positions are without question higher in the need pecking order relative to tight end.

It is worth noting, however, that Kincaid is an awesome prospect.

Some Cowboys fans might fancy Georgia specimen Darnell Washington to Kincaid, but the Utah product is universally regarded as the premier ball-catching tight end in this class.

In fact, Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner noted on social media that Kincaid has just two drops on 108 catchable passes since 2021. He also hauled in an incredible 16-of-27 passes in contested catch situations.

Those highlights would be a welcome sight to the Cowboys offense. And Dak Prescott would surely reap the benefits of the team drafting a plug-and-play tight end, and having multiple trustworthy tight ends in Kincaid, Jake Ferguson, and Peyton Hendershot.

That said, we understand the fans who take issue with drafting a tight end in the first round. It’s not close to a premium position, and the Cowboys already have two developing players on the roster.

Wherever you stand, a tight end is seemingly in the realm of possibility for Dallas in Round 1 post Combine. The Athletic’s Jon Machota noted as such in a recent article, and McShay and Brugler wouldn’t mock Kincaid to the team willy-nilly.

There’s clearly some smoke here.

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